Rohr names Obaje, Egbuchulam as replacements for Moses, Success

•Musa, Onazi, Ikeme, 5 others arrive in camp

SUPER Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Monday named Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top goal merchants in the just-ended season, Godwin Obaje and Chisom Egbuchulam as replacements for internationals Victor Moses and Isaac Success for next Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo of Zambia.

Chelsea’s Moses and Success of Watford, who had been named as part of the Eagles’ squad expected in Abuja ahead of the trip to Ndola, Zambia, for the qualifying series opener, were ruled out due to injuries they sustained in their clubs’ respective English Premiership games.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, Ademola Olajire, informed that both Chelsea and Watford had written formally to the federation intimating it of the players’ injuries.

According to him, Moses had hamstring trouble, which was responsible for his being substituted in Chelsea’s EPL tie against Hull City and that Success, who scored for Watford in its 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, had a knock and finding it difficult to walk.

In a swift response to the injuries, the Franco-German Rohr promptly looked the ways of the NPFL stars to replace the both Moses and Success.

Wikki Tourists’ Obaje emerged the highest goalscorer in the 2015/2016 season with 18 goals, while Egbuchulam, who was part of Enugu Rangers’ success story after 32 years in the wilderness, finished second on the goalscorer chart with 15 goals.

The Rangers hitman scored a hat-trick for the Imama Amapakabo-tutored Enugu side on the closing day of the NPFL season against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in front of home fans, including Enugu State governor.

Meanwhile, eight players had reported in camp by press time on Monday. The players as Tribunesport was reliably informed are Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejile, Uche Agbo and Chisom Egbuchulam. Others are all the three invited goalkeepers — Carl Ikeme, Emmanuel Daniel and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.